People with bad credit will soon find their names on a nationwide law enforcement blacklist, according to Huang Songyou, vice president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC).

Huang said that the SPC will establish a law enforcement database linked to the country's nationwide credit database, including information on amount of debt and period of delinquency. Government agencies in charge of business registration, real estate, project bidding, vehicle administration and entry and exit administration will have access to it.

Those with poor credit will encounter difficulties registering new companies, purchasing cars and real estate, contracting projects, trading and leaving the country.

The personal credit system, linking banks across the country, is scheduled to be fully operational in 2005. A similar system for corporate credit went on line in 2002.

"Establishing the database is one of the SPC's major innovative moves", Huang said. "Every single step from the filing to the conclusion of the more than 2 million cases handled by courts of various levels nationwide each year will be incorporated."

The general public will also have access to information via the SPC-sponsored website, www.chinacourt.org, one of China's biggest websites on law.

"The only way out for these offenders is to perform their duty as soon as possible, in a bid to restore their credit," Huang said.

The SPC has developed a detailed plan for the database and the software is being designed. No projected date for implementation was provided.

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2004)